Some Colleges are Asking for Videos - Jump at the Opportunity!
More and more selective universities are following the lead of the likes of Brown, the University of Chicago, and Washington University in giving students the option to provide a brief video (90 seconds to 2 minutes) after they submit their formal application. It is important to check each school’s policies, but most of these videos are due a few days after the application itself is due. Whether it is through their own applicant portal or via the Glimpse platform, this option is a sign of the times. With application numbers exploding, admissions offices no longer have the capacity to offer interviews to each applicant, even with alumni willing to assist. These videos are an opportunity for admissions officers to gain some of the insights they used to glean from interviews: a sense of how you speak and carry yourself in ways that don’t come through in an essay.
And in the Age of AI, where there is real concern about what tools students may have used to assist their writing, these videos can offer a more authentic glimpse into a student’s ability to articulate their thoughts in interesting ways. It can sometimes be hard to tell if AI has played too big a role in shaping an essay; but, at least as of this writing, AI tools can’t fabricate a video like this.
Like many optional items in an application, at Arthur Smith Advising we view this as an opportunity to stand out and we encourage all of our students to take advantage of this whenever a school offers it.
Here are some important ideas to consider as you work on your video:
Keep it low tech and keep yourself on camera throughout. Despite what you may see in videos posted to social media, admissions officers aren’t impressed by the bells and whistles of fancy production values like elaborate cut-aways, graphics or a collage of pictures and videos from your life. They’re simply not looking for that. Instead, they’d much prefer you speak directly to the camera throughout and talk in a natural way as if they were sitting across the table from you. Keep your video to a single cut and show them you have the ability to speak cogently in that timeframe. Cutting away to graphics doesn’t demonstrate that verbal ability. So, rather than editing to include other clips, film in a single take. Start with your room or your dining room or consider a setting that is important to you (a favorite park bench, or a basketball court). Just be sure to keep the camera on you throughout.
Be prepared by outlining or even writing out what you want to say ahead of time. But avoid reading a script and coming across as robotic. Be natural. This format is replacing the old fashioned interview and is a great way to showcase your confidence and ease in talking to adults. But unlike an interview, you can practice your presentation as much as you want ahead of time so you actually are confident and at ease!
Content. Some colleges have a question they want you to answer. Be sure to answer it. If they are open-ended on what you can talk about, this is an opportunity to either “double down” on themes already in your application essays (why you are interested in the university, for example) OR highlight something entirely new about yourself that they don’t yet know. Either approach can add value. Bonus points if you can actually do both by highlighting something new about yourself while also emphasizing some of the attributes and traits that are already in your application. For example, if your Common App essay and resume is full of themes of curiosity and discovery, try to focus on new examples of anecdotes that touch on those characteristics.
Be yourself. Try not to be nervous and avoid trying to be someone you are not. Applicants aren’t going to be evaluated on whether they are likely to be a great orator who lights up the TV when the next election rolls around. Instead, admissions officers want to see with their own two eyes that the student they just evaluated is authentic and has the spark to convey their ideas and thoughts verbally, and not just on paper.
Although these videos are rarely required, it is worth the effort to produce one, not just to demonstrate your commitment to that school by going the extra mile but to find yet another way to reveal what makes you unique.